Switch



P. F. MEENAN.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. 1921.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922. a SHEETS-SHEET I.

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WITNESS:

P. F. MEENAN.

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UNITED stares PETER E'MEENAN, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SWITCH.

specification of Letter-Patent Patented Mal- 14 1922v Appiieaiion sied May 2o, 192i. serial No. 471,040.

To all 'io/Om it may conce/r11 Be it known that I, Parra F. Mummia, a citizen of the United States, residing` at Detroit, in the county of YVayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to improvements in railway switches and has especial relation to means for operating a switch.

An Object of the present invention is the provision of a switch operating mechanism which may be controlled from a car while the latter is in motion, the mechanism being so constructed as to permit of the switch being trailed by cars traveling in an opposite direction, or operated manually by the insertion of a bar or other device between the switch point and the adjacent rail, in the usual manner.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details ot construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the dra-wings:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch showingA the application of the invention, the switch actuating disk and adjacentv mechanism being shown by dotted lines, the :tigure further illustrating a car truck in position entering a switch.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same with some parts broken away and others shown in section.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on a line with the car engaging lever.

Figure 4 is an enlarged skeleton plan View of the track device, the switch point andthe adjacent rail, the carrier plate which carries the track device being shown as transparent, in order to more clearly show the actuating mechanism, the closed position of the switch and its operating mechanism being shown by dotted lines.

Figure 5` is a longitudinal sectional view through the subject matter of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a transverse section of the same, l

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical section taken through the car carried trip cylinder.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing the arrangement ot the car carried air controlled device.

Referring, to Y the'- drawings in detail, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates the rails of a'track, in which a switch is included, the switch point being shown at 11. This switch point is pivotally mounted as indicated at 12 upon the top of a casing or housing13, tliesaid top being flush with the roadway.

Located within the. casing 13 is a track device for operating Vswitch point V11, Vthe said device including a disk 14 which is disposed horizontally and rotatably upon a pivot 15 carried by the top of the casing 13. This di's'k operates within a depression 16 formed in the casing 13 and is provided in its periphery with notches 17, whose adjacent walls 18 are inclined and terminate in a point 19'. Eccentrically pivoted tothe disk 14 as shown at 20, is one end of a link or arm 21, the opposite end of this link or arm carrying a stud or pin 22, which operates through a slot 23 provided in the top of the casing 13, the said lstud or pin being connected to the switch point 11, as shown.l By this means, rotation or oscillation ofthe disk 14 will impart pivotal movement to the switch point 11 to close oropen the switch, as will be readilyunderstood. i

For the purpose of actuating the disk 14, there ispro'vided a slide 23, which operates in a guidefQt carried by the top ot the casing 13. The inner end of this slide has connected thereto one end of a link 25, .whose opposite end carries a roller 26 which enters the depression 16 previously mentioned and operates within the notches 17 of the disk 14. A movement of the slide towards the disk will cause the roller 26 tol engage and move along the inclined wall 18 of one of the notches 17 and to engage the inner end of the said notch to move the disk upon its pivot, theliinit of movementA being reguu lated by means of stops 27. Then the disk is moved in one direction, this movement willbe sufficientV to carrythe point' 19 beyond the longitudinal center of the slide 23, Y

so that when the slide is again operated inwardly the disk willbe-in 'such position that thewall of the other notch 17 will be engaged andthe disk reversely operated. Y A yoke 28 is provided for holding the roller 26 in proper position. A Y

The slide 23 is automatically returned to normal Vposition and Jfor' this purpose the said slide carries a rod 29 which is disposed parallel beneath the slide and operates within a guide 30. A coiled spring 3l surrounds the rod 29 and .is positioned between the guide 30 and a shoulder formed on the guide 23. Pivotally connected to the outer end of the slide is one end of a rod 32, the opposite end ofthe said rod being pivotally and adjustably connected to alever 34 whichis mounted for pivotal movement adjacent the track as shown at 35.` The rod 32 may also be spring actuated to return the parts to normal position and for this purpose is surrounded by a spring 36 which is positioned between an abutment 37 carried by the.rod and a bearing 38 through which the rod opcrates. l

The lever 34 has its lower end disposed beneath the surface of the roadway within a suitable casing 39, while a casing 40 connects this last mentioned casing with the casing 13 rand provides aV housing for the rod 32. The upper `end of the lever 34 is arranged at right angles andextends through aslot 4l provided in a guide rail 42, the said guide rail being spaced from one of the rails l0 and located in advance ofthe switch, the

right angled portion of the lever 34. providing an operating trigger 43 which 1s po` sitioned within the space betweenfthe rail l() and the guide rail 42. The rail 42 has each of its ends curved outwardly as at 44 toprovide an entrance.

The switch is designed for operation by a car in motion and for this purpose various mechanisms may be employed. One of such mechanismsis shown and` includes a cylinder 45 whichis secured to the frame 46 at the' front of a car truck. This cylinder has mounted therein a piston 47, whose rod 48 extends downward to provide a trip 49. This rod is normally elevated by means of a spring 50 which surrounds the `same and is located within the cylinder 45, while in order to limit the downward movement of the trip, the rod 48 has mounted thereon a flanged wheel 5l.. This wheel engages one of the rails 10 in a manner to `dispose `the trip 49 within the space between therails l0 and 42 so as to locate the said trip in position to engage the trigger 43.

Normally the trip 49 is elevated and in order. to depress the same, the Vcylinder 45 is connected with a suitable source of air supply, for example the air reservoir of an ordinary air brake system, through the medium of a pipe 52. This pipe `leadsto a three-way valve 53, which is 1n turnl connected to the air cylinder 45 by means of a pipe 54, a

similar pipe servin to connect the valve with a similar cylin er 45 upon the opposite side of the car track so as to provide for operating a switch upon either side oi the car. Y

It is believed that the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings will render the construction, operation and advantages of the invention apparent. It may be here statedi however, that the construction of the rack` device is such as to permit the switch to be thrown without the operation of the said device. In other words, a bar or other 1mplement may be inserted within the switchto open the same without actuating the slide 23 or its connected parts. This will leave the parts in position `to be subsequently actu* ated by a car mechanism, ii desired.

The invention is susceptible of various what is means operatively connecting the disk with' the switch point, a pivotally movable me1nber located adjacent the track, a spring actuated rod having one end adjustablysecured to the pivotally mounted member, a slide pivotally secured to the opposite end of the rod, means carried by the slide for engagement with the disk, whereby the latter will be alternately rotated in opposite directions when jthe slide is operated by a move` ment of the pivot-ally movable member and a car carried device for operating the latter.

2. The combination with-a railway switch, ot a horizontally jrotatable disk, means operativcly connecting the disk with the switch point, a pivot-ally movable member located adjacent they track, a spring actuated' rod c having one end adjustably` secured to the nivotally movable member, a slide pivotally secured to the opposite endvof the rod, a

guide for theslide, an oii'set portion 4Vfor the slide, a rod extending :from theoliset portion and spacedfrom and parallel to the slide, aguide for the rod,a spring surrounding thev slide carried rod and Vpositioned between the guide and the offset slide7 means carried bythe slide for engagement withthe disk, whereby the latter will be alternately rotated in opposite directions when the slide is operated by a movement ofthe pivotally movable member and Va car carried Vdevice ior operating Athe latter. y In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature. PETER F. MEENAN. 

